History grant money to help keep heat on in museum
The Butler County Historical Society has a few events planned in the winter months, meaning the organization will have to keep the heat on in its facilities longer than usual.
Luckily, the organization is set to receive $4,000 through the Cultural and Historical Support Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. The money can be used for regular operating costs, which includes utility payments.
“We are experiencing skyrocketing heating bills, so this will help to offset,” said Jennifer Ford, executive director of the Butler County Historical Society. “We're doing more and more winter events, which means we have to keep the place warm longer. So now we can do more events in the cold weather months.”
The Historical & Museum Commission is awarding almost $2 million in Cultural and Historical Support Grants this year, according to a news release from the organization. The Maridon Museum and Historic Harmony Inc. also received $4,000 grants in Butler County.
Ford said the historical society applies for the grant each year, and the maximum any museum can receive is $40,000, the news release said.
Even when the historical society doesn’t have any projects coming up, Ford said the grant money is still always useful.
“Unlike some other grants that must be used for a specific project, this goes to operating cost,” Ford said. “For example, it can go to our salaries so we can keep running the place. We do apply for it every year, and are always very grateful to receive it.”